Intermediate Planner

Job Posting#: 14-2025(e)
Status: Permanent, Full Time
Union/Non-union: CUPE 1385
Annual Salary: $89,885 – $95,622 *Under review

Department/Division: Building & Planning / Planning
Location: On-Site (Stratford, ON) with remote work arrangements. 

Duties:
Reporting to the Manager of Planning, the Intermediate Planner is responsible for processing various applications under the Planning Act and Condominium Act, both short-term (minor variances, consents, and site plans) and more in-depth applications. This role involves assisting with planning studies, research projects, and providing advice on planning matters.

The Intermediate Planner collaborates with other divisions within the City, including Building, Bylaw, Clerks and Infrastructure Services (Engineering), and engages with external agencies and stakeholders.

The Intermediate Planner represents the City of Stratford in various land-use planning forums and contributed to maintaining high ethical standards and positive public perception of the City’s planning activities.

Work Performed:

• Supports Department Staff and/or directly provides technical and professional planning advice and information to the public, developers, lawyers, and other stakeholders pertaining to land-use and zoning matters, including, responding to inquiries in-person, by phone and email regarding zoning, and general planning related matters. To support proactive community education, lead or participate in preparing plain language communications and/or making presentations to the public regarding planning, zoning, and other City programs.
• Assists and provides professional input in the administration and enforcement of the Ontario Planning Act and related statutory regulations, municipal by-laws and other relevant and applicable law, and to a secondary extent, the Ontario Building Code Act and City engineering standards/requirements.
• Reviews and confirms submitted application and materials for accuracy and completeness.
• Provides clarification when needed to other staff on payments and transactions including licenses, invoices, development charges, and permits. Reviews and processes refund requests.
• Provide guidance/direction on, or directly process more complex/unique/contentious short-term planning applications (ex. minor variances, consents, site plans).
• Process more complex applications (official plan amendments, complex zoning by-law amendments, subdivision and condominium plans).
• Review letters of zoning compliance when needed, evaluate applications under relevant by-laws, and ensure compliance and conformity with zoning, site plan, and against the City’s Official Plan and other guidelines, standards, and policies.
• Provides professional support and guidance when needed on submitted applications and/or plans, studies, reports.
• Apply file management and complex issue resolution to meet process timelines.
• Prepare reports and recommendations on planning and development proposals.
• When requested by the Senior Division Staff, coordinates, prepares agendas and takes notes for various planning/development-related meetings.
• Attend public consultation meetings to present, respond to questions from Committee, Council, the public and stakeholders.
• Follows and adheres to City/departmental filing protocols.
• Assists, coordinates, and/or responds to questions and complaints, especially regarding more complex land-use planning-related matters.
• Confers with and provides information to developers, engineers, architects, property owners, contractors, committees established by Council, and others regarding more complex land-use planning-related matters.
• Conduct site visits and inspections as required.
• Process and/or comment on community improvement plan (CIPs) applications that are complex/unique in nature.
• Lead or participate in new initiatives or increasing the success rates of current CIP programs.
• Ensure development proposals conform with the Official Plan, Provincial policies, and Council Guidelines.
• Assist in developing implementation policies and preparing amendments to the Official Plan and Zoning By-law.
• Prepares complex agreements related to planning matters (e.g., development, site plan, and subdivision).
• Coordinate and, and in consultation with more senior planning staff, negotiate input from applicants, consultants, service areas, agencies, and the public on planning proposals and amendments.
• Assist more senior planning staff with studies and research projects relating to the immediate and long-term planning of land, facilities, and services.
• Administer planning program activities and assist in processing the release of security on applications.
• Participates as needed on background research, preparing data, and other tasks relating to the development and reviews for Development Charges and/or Community Benefits Charges Studies/By-laws as governed by the Planning Act.
• When directed, assigned to work closely with more senior City positions on key projects/assignments, ensuring alignment with overall planning objectives and strategies, and supporting their management of major projects and studies.
• Provide planning information and advice on principles and policies to applicants, consultants, citizen groups, government agencies, and the public.
• Supports senior staff in compiling background research and data required to accurately account for and recover costs associated with various planning activities.
• Support divisional work plans and direct, train, and advise junior planning staff and students.
• Represent the Division on administrative and advisory committees.
• As a “Registered Professional Planner” (RPP), provide professional planning evidence at the Ontario Land Tribunal (OLT) and other hearings conducted under Provincial legislation on behalf of the City.
• Prepares appeal records, affidavits, witness statements, and evidence with little to no supervision.
• Assists in maintaining a safe working environment.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

• Undergraduate Degree (4 years) in Planning or equivalent education
• Minimum of 3-4 years related professional experience, preferably in a municipal land-use planning environment.
• Valid Driver’s License (Class G).

Specialized Skills, Abilities, Training, License, Memberships, or Certifications

• Membership or eligibility for membership in the Ontario Professional Planners Institute (OPPI) and the Canadian Institute of Planners (CIP).
• Designation of “Registered Professional Planner” (RPP). If not possessed, obtaining “RPP” credentials within a specified period will be required.
• Demonstrated understanding of Zoning By-laws, Official Plans, the Planning Act, tribunal processes, and other relevant legislation and regulations.
• Knowledge of municipal planning principles and practices, development processes, heritage conservation, and urban design.
• Proven ability to coordinate projects, development processes, and provide excellent customer service to diverse client groups.
• Excellent report writing and presentation preparation skills.

The City of Stratford is committed to building a culture where difference is valued.  The more inclusive we are, the better our work will be on behalf of the community we serve. We are committed to continuously improving our systems, policies and practices to remove barriers, promote respect and ensure our employees, in all their diversity, can succeed. We encourage and welcome qualified applicants with a diverse range of perspectives, skills and lived experiences to apply.   

Accommodations are available for people with disabilities throughout all stages of the recruitment process.  Applicants should make their needs known in advance.

While we appreciate all applications received, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

Personal information collected in response to this advertisement is collected under the authority of the Municipal Act, 2001 to determine eligibility for employment with the City of Stratford.  Please direct inquiries to the Human Resources Department at 519-271-0250 x 336.

Human Resources Department 
City Hall, P.O. Box 818

Stratford, ON N5A 6W1

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